Yarn-changing mechanism for circular-knitting machines.



L. EMLAHD.

YARN HANGING MECHMUM 3:0?? CIRCULAR P'N''HG MCHHES,

APPUCATIOM man JULY a5, nmz.

G. L. BALLARD.

YARN CHANGING MECHANISIVI IOR CIRCULAR KNITYING MACHINES.

' APPLICATION FILED jULY 15.1914.

Patented M. 19m,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. Y

Civ.

vflic invention :is appliod Fiyi. :i iliiiiiil viiw oi lie liemi ilziiiips.

Fig'. T is ii iloiiil 'iiiii' of the smi wheels.

While feiiiiiies oi? my invention may lue applied to iiiiicliinos of i'iii'ioiis Lypos and iii viii'ioiis ii'iiys, iii H10 iiii'iiiciiliii' example of my invention lieioiii disclosed, ii show to ii` iiiiichiiiol of the rotary needle oyliiiilei' typo, :ind wliili-A my invention iiiiiy bu applied in msic-hiiiis ioi'iizikiiig viii-ions iiitiiles sind iziibiiliii' fabiiimi oi viiiioiis,4 diameters, iii tlic piiiiciiliii 'Form Shown ii; is iiliiSi/i'iitziiil in coiiiiocizioii with ii body machine `i'oi.- making, for iiisizfxiioe, sweaters.

lii tlm drawings., 'l iiiiliiziief; iflii':y i'otiii'y noodle oyli'iiiloi', 2 iilw ifiiii Cyliiiilii. 'Die' piisvil iii; ilifl'i'iiiiil; iiiiiiii's. Sziy iiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiii. Ei?

This yiii'ii iiicl iiii'odiicffd to iii@ again, lii so drawing iliis iiliiclc i in,

iwiili siriiwi', fmiiiii ilii (enfin Siliiiwii, :mil

these bell cranks are operated serietifiit to canse the stripers in succession to change the color of yarn 'fed to the needles.

T he controllers 8 comprise depending portions provided 'with inclined lower' edges which work upon the outer ends of the arm's carrying the yarn feed lingers, When the v cani portion is turned from central position cither way it will ride over either one or the other oi the said arms at the onter'end thereof and tip the same down, thus lifting the inner end and raising' the yarn feed iin- ,grr7 together with .its yarn, from the needles, this action taking place against the power of the spring 3. `When the cam shaped controller is moved from over'either yarn finger airin this arm will be lowered by its sprlng to put the yarn carried thereby in work.

Each striper also comprises a yarn cutter and clamp. The cutter consists of a fixed shear blade 14 and movable blade 15, the latter beingr pivotally mounted at 16 and boing?r operated by an arm 17 attached to its pivot or shaft.

rthisI arm is connected by a link 17 to a.

bell crank lever 18 on the post 13 there being one of these bell cranks for each striper i'nechanism to operate its shear blades, and these shear blades, one for each of the fonr stripers are operated in succession.

Associated with each yarn cutter is a clamp' for holding the end of the yarn when raised ont of' work and severed by the cntter, and while this may be variously arranged and constructed, in the particular 'form of the invention shown it consists of a spring platil :23 held by screws Q4 and overlying' `the cutter blades. l

llach striper hasl a bracket 25 for snpporting; the varioiis parts thereof(l above described'. and cach bracket is held on a. post ."6 by a screw 27, the post being snpiiorted in 'he'iisiial rain ring.

Foi-operating the several bell cranks l! and 18. and thereby operating the yarn feed fingers and riittcrs l employ contact means located in part on thc rotary portion ol. the machine and in part on the xed portion. l'hesc contact devices -may he variably constructed and` arranged biit in the particolar construction shown l employ sets ot' star' wheels 28 and fl there being foinU sets in the iiicscnt instance, one set being provided for cacli-stripcr. description of one set will :iiiswci' l'oi' them all. The star .viicels 28 and 15) are on shafts or driiins 5l() inonntcd in a standard ll, fixed to the stationary.' hase ring` of' the ii'iaciiinc, this ring. as in ilic fixed hase rii o-loi' 'he icnitin;v hcafh rl`hc stai' wheel S29. nas its fit or drinn corincctod with a" rod by a arranged .eccentric to the conter iiiQ the sha .Ft

,iisiiiil practice siipportinp" by s ta,i:.iards 2?. y. o.

or drinn. The iini'iei end ol (his rod is conpin 36 which is nected to the bell crank 12 ol the sti-iper to which this particular set of star wheels belong.

The shaft or drinn of thi` star wheel 2S) has a cam 42 Jformed therewith or lixed thereto,

and this may be formed by flattening the 18 which above stated operates the cnt! tor.

It may be mentioned here that the movable shear blades act in connection with the spring clamp to hold the yarn, said 'blade at the time of cnttinof the yarn serving to push the end under the spring clamp plato to he held thereby, and therefore npon the opening movement oi the shear blade the yarn end which has been held thereby in connection Iwith the 'spring clamp will be released, this taking place at tho time the yarn is thrown into work.

The star wheels have each foin' arms or points, two of these are narrow as at Zi and the other tivo are wide as at n.

For operating the star wheels (a quarter tiirn at each action) pins 50, 51 aro provided on the rotary take-np rin;A 52, this ringr rotating with the needle cylinder in the dii-cction of the -arrow 7/ in Fig. 1. This ring' is connected with the cylinder to rotate thcrcwith by the standards or posts 5?). which posts as in nsnal practice, iiirnish the siipports for the take np rolls 54, Fig. 2. 'l`ln` pin is slidably monntcd in a standard or post 55 fixed to the revolving take-np rin.;r 82 while the pin 51 is fixed by a screw 5G in a standard 57 carried by said revolvingr tal e-iip ring. The sliding pin 50 is operated b v a lever 5S pivoted to the pin 5l at 59. said lever being in tiirn operated by the pin G0 slidably mounted in a post 6l also snppoi'ted on the revolving tal cnp ring. A cani 152 is vertically adjustable so as 1o Ilocate its edge 62 to be either iii the plane ofthe pin (30 for pushing it inwardly as the pin rides iipon the inner siiri'acc ot' said cam or to be in the plane of travel ot'lthe pin 50 to piish itvinwardly. The cani is guided in its vertical movements by a post (lil and a pin (S4 fixed to and extending' np troni the fixed base ring 32 and it is adjusted vortically h v connections to a suitable pattern mechanism and whileI this inay ho ot various ternes. in the particular :'orin shown these connections consist of a rod h5 andia le Mi' titi. l

'Ehc machine is shown with the whiteyai'ii '/f in work' and the rod 1\arn i' oid` of work, ilic vai'n finger i" havin; been lil'led by thii-.oiitroilcr or cani 8 riding.; on thc enter or ilO - lunotion of this pin,

, that edge 62 ytail -portion ot said arni and maaien tipping its inner end upwardly. The pin which operates only upon the narrow teeth ot" the star wheehis in innermost position, hav ing;` been moved to this position by the cam edge 62. The pin 60 is in its outermost position but being .in a. low plane it will. not he operated by the camedge 62 which is now in its uppermost position. Furthermore, it will be noticed-tl'iat the star wheels have heen left in such position 'that their narrow arms are lowermost and as the pin Sil) is at its inward limit it will passthese narrow arnis without contacting' therewith. Again it will be observed that the fixed pin".` .El being' only long enough to reach vthe wide arnis c. this pin will .likewise be ineffective in the position in which the machine is shown because the Wide arms or teeth of the star wheels are above the plane of moven'ient ol this tixed pin. The pin (i0, as before stated. travels in a path below thatvof the star wheels and has no effect thereon, the when operated by the cani 62,', being to operate the'lever 58 to project thc traveling pin 50 ontwardly to operate the star wheels by striking' their narrow arme or teeth. Suppesing the yarns are to be cl'langed by withdrawing the white and il'ltrodncing the red yarrn the pattern mechanism will more the cam 62 downs@ will be in the plane of travel ol the pin 60. s the lpin 60 comes around it rides upon the cani edge 62 and is moved inwardly and through the lever 58, operates to throw the high long pin 50 outwardly, which high pin is long enough, as above elated, to reach the narrow teeth of the star wheels when sojmoved outwardly. lln Kgiving the first star 'wheel 28 a quarter turn by contact or' the long in 50 the oranlr shalt ol the .star wheel is given 'a quarter turn lifting the rod `halle up and this through the bell crank lil moves the con- At-rollcr tl to central position which allows the red yarn `mide f' to fall. l

"'l`he higg'h long pin 50 after operating the tirs-t star wheel and havingf lowered the red 'ai-n guide 1"', passes on to the second Star wheel 2f) and operates this a quarter turn by engaging with the narrow tooth thereof. This operates through rod lill to open the entier or shear blade by swinging the 1novable blade inwardly. These two actions, v7. f2, lowering? the red yarn linger 1^ and' opening; the shear bladev` releases thered yarn r trom the clamp and placca it in work. y'

.lis soon as this opcninig' of the shear blade has been completed the middle pin 5i which j is shorter than the pin 50, sti-lires thvy iiroad, tooth ol the iirst star wheel and another Quarter tarn whirh has the throwing)n ont or nV-vardly the w.;

rather in guido w with the result: that uns now entere the shears to be severed and clamped. The middle pin 5l now contacts with the'broad tooth of the second star ywheel 29 and l@gives it another quarter turn with the result that the shears are closed and the white thread is severed and its end clamped by the thin The red thread is now in stripe and the star wheels spring plate 23. work to make the are left in the with theirnarrow teeth down in the path of the pins and if changing of the yarns is to continue then as the long pin 5G will operate the star Wheels again byengaging their narrow' teeth, and this will throw the white yarn carrierl down to introduce the white yarn and the red yarn carrier will be thrown up to'put it out of work when the. middle pin operates on the wide tooth of the star wheel 28 and the shears will be opened and closed above described, together with the clamp. l

The pin may now be rendered inoperative for the continued user'o'l the white yarn. supposing the body el? the fabric to be white, therefore the cani is raised to the position shown to push inwardly the pin 50 so that it will not operate against the narrow teeth of the star wheels and further as the Fixed middle pin 5L is not long enough to reach ont to the narrow teeth but long enough only to reach the broad teeth which are now above the plane of the pin, and further as the low pin does not operate thestar Wheels at all,`

the machine will continue knitting white or the body fabric as lore* as the parts are in the position to be op :ated by the cam 62 it this should be lowered and when so oper ated the pin`r till will be forned inwardly and through the lever 58 the pin 50 will be forced outwardly and thus lie in position to operate upon ,the narrow teeth oi". the star Wheels for again changing the yarn to red yarn.. rlne cam havingl been lowered from the position shown into the plane of the pin 60 and havingir operated said. pin to make the pin :l0 ellective on the sta-r wheel remains in this position so lona' as changes are to 'h annie in the colors. lhua the striping' cllect can he continued.

linoperating the star wheels hy pino() the broad teeth 'of said star wheels are lowered into the planer of the fixed pin 51 which now operates them.

The 'sequence of operations at the stripers is toirst lower the inoperative yarn nager e by inolvinzgr the controller 8 to i'ieutral position7 next open the shears to receive the other yarn, these operations being performed by 'pin 50 acting on the tato star wheels in snoccasion)` next lil-'t the`other yarn raide out of operation (by throwing the controller S in the opposite direction or i direction'whioh it had position shown in the ligure,l

machine continues the i CIK Cil

pince :it one gmini or set when ronrning in nenlirni pnniinn), and fourth ainsi the sahenrs5 (hess insty two @parar tions being pei-ionized hy Liin pin l anfing in snmwssimi on the szir wheels,

Willi the narrow :ind iii-ond on'tli Stair Whrnls ihr paris Wili ho cmiroilvd 'an wnri; in limo. for ingiuria,Hnpposing nur: mi" lim slm' Whnis has been nrnod :u cidnnlrziily f" that its broad nmih is inwornnfli, w'liiio this nnrrnw ninth is imv'rsrninsl; nn tain?, :Hija-21511'. Shir wheeL This, if ii. he stur wheei 28 which 0in; of time, wouidcmzse two @nds or jifzirns it@ im in Work :il: once, bnr, this mndiinn would not continu@A because the star wheel wmild in; immediateiy turned by nonlnc'n 0i 'one nl the pins with its broad tooth and thus inni yyiirn would be thrown oni; and h@ 0th@ ieii, iin

`When both yarns :iro in this condition will @Kist only during thv {listino-e: between pins 50 and 5i. In other wirds, ii"- eiiir star wheel gets ont of position he. P ed pi 51, Opern-ring nn he brmd moth nf ii'lar whoeel. wiii bring it; inin the position shown willi thv mirroir meth inwerninsi,

The; .fictions :ihm/e dnscrihed which infr, tx,nr win-,nis in operate one striprr luizen pinne in snccesimi :zt :iii this grunps of stur Wheilfi sind ihieir stfripms, dan pins nr nnntzic members rrr ingr Wiihl the nierinxninm und nfzinfij mi ihn li'w.' i-nip ci: hir whiwls to :ae-curi: #Jilin su nnssirn :winni of ihn siripnrs.

n rr, iii, 0f this successivi: :wi'inn ihn sriping will iiegin nl'. Sirf-i anni@ Wah: in ihn l'uhri.: 'for ezirh yarn changer :imi 'nl xviii and nl; ihn anni@ wn ln ifm" Qur-h yarn changer.

inlf/ (am anni 62 is en1g l0 ,ff.\d und one sc, nif pins; 5G; (il). f ihiS-nmnhinv -eii'ibodirs Home oi the imlxnrns and inefzimi' ns diS- closed in my szpi'iiinzxlifm iivd Mu 2, 13H4, #840578,

l claim:

1. En combi cimfiziar icni i.. I machine, a rr u "iin isyiinilar, 1i 'pair i ynrr; fingers prv'oLsi-iiy nimmtod .mining in verticni piane-5 .und 'nailing t" pori-.imm lying oni, hsycmfl their pirfil yarn mit@ comprising :L blade pivnlzziir nnmnimi m swing in :i imrizonmi pinna), :in ascii controller fm) the )Jairn inffmrs ann, about, :i verimi mais;a :izi'zi l bomvol@ fingers :ind in'rmaedine di" @nels ni' fingers and haring :i mini 'norinn woriiiin" on the mii por'ifms or' ihn I I ,'15, Emir wh 'mechanism on thvl iimd Tranny lwrimnsiiili/ mnvnni@ 'mds one connfecied with the hor-r mnli'iiiy osciihiing mntrriihr :ind ihr iiwr with the horinnnaii'y moimhhf yar i rnliior,

n rotarynccdlc Cylinder, a yarn changer anmprisingi Lw() yarn lingers pivotally' ninnniwi nim-ing in vericzil pianes and havin;V mii pnrtinns ont; beyond their pivots, :1, ni mimi rnniroiler Swinging horizontally, 'Ihn pirni, ni whi'rh is arranged between the linfrm i: 'nl int-Grimdizrtn of the ends tlwronfl/ und :i yiirn fnLLnr moving in :i horizontal phinr, :i ir nl slm" Wheels inni-ning.; on hori xnnfd mies, :i connection from shaft; ni nn@ nim: n'hm-.i to the hmi'fzontzilliT Swinging'j nimlrnlicr, :i cni'nicntimi from the nthnr slur n'hnni to the horiznnl'ally movable cull-or, nwsnn; for moving said Star when] Srl hr sewn, they cnnnccion lending to the controlli-r giving' ihr, sinne n .stop by step movementy in one dirncl'imi and :i reverso Siep hy nlzrp moronwni inrin0 one com livio revolution Uli :if vizir n'hvnis arranged on horiznnlni ums,

n, omni( pin ffnnnrnlmi with onu slur whroi. :i f:..n.n\ '1inn hniwrvn the crunk pin :ind linvv pivnlrd w'nilroliir comprising :i vcrlirsii rfid, :i iirll ririnli lovin', :ind n horizoninl rod. :1 [msi nn which ihn Suid heli Crunk inw-r in monniod, :i mnu nwnilwr connrfluri willi ihn, other slur wheel, :i cominci-ion hotwcr-n thv. said mun nwnihvrr and tlm vnrn cnlor omnprising :i .rrif-:il rod. n heil crunk )over nin z: hnrimn'i,:d rnd, Suid hdi rifinh iorrr bring nmunrd nn hc Opposite side of lh@ said Wist rnm tho, positmn nl thv firsty moni imwd hai! nrfxnic lowi- :Lnd means for operating ihn snr whrnh; stop h v slap in on, direcimi, suhfszmliaily :is described. i

4.. in rmnhinnlfinn in n knitting nirxchinn. :i ro'fir" nvvdln (,-ylindrr n y:,irn chnngrr minprisnnr two Yarn fingern pivomlIy inffnnifd, :i pivnh-.d non'rroihr swinging; lmrimnlziiiy :md hiivirfg' :i anni portion in ridiy mi @nier ends ai the, fingvrs, said coninilar heini: pivolrd between tho fingers. n yarn vnl'or moving' in :i horiznnizd piani, n. wir m" sini' wiwi-is :irrnng'od nn imrimJ-nni :man fi (',rnk pin connwird with .inr slur nin-nl. .-i, '.'urii\ ''li |n iwlm'icn ihr. rrnnli vin :and ihn pvnrd mnlroiler mnpriini :i i'rriifui rmiy :i hrli nrnnk lfncr, :in :erin mi ihr :winl of ihn ii\'0lrd minimiinr.. .5 imrimnnl rnd nxtmiding inwnrdiy isfnn ihn hrli vr: nh' hw'ar in smid firm, :L cuni mimin'r vunnirind. Willi illu (lh'r .Sl/nl* whrci, :i @mim-.Minn hntn'ucn mid wm inninlill) lill 10 moves inwardly,

vinder, :L yarn changer, connections on the fixed frame for operating the Vern chan rer including a stur wheel, a radially sliifta le pin and a iXed pin on a part of the machine rotating with the needle cylinder, both of said pins operating the star wheel, a second shifmble pin on the rotary member', a lever connecting the shiftable pins whereby, when one moves outwardly radially the other the second. shiftable pin moving in 'u plane below ille star wheel, :1nd :1 vertically shiftnble 0:1111 on the fixed frame for `operating the Shiffnble pins, :1nd pattern@ineens for operating the cum, substziniiinlllf :is described,

GEORGE L, BALLARD. Witnesses:

OWEN BALLARD, ConA T. llnLToN. 

